Semester Finale

I can't believe this is the end of the semester already! I would like to say, what a journey around the literacy world! I still remember my wonder in the first class about if I would fit in the context of this class because my target audience is way beyond K-12. However, now that I'm close to the finishing line, I realized that I have my pockets full! I have been enjoying this class a great deal, mostly because this class itself is one sample class well fit into the TPACK framework. Technologies were not used for technology's sake. They are all well equipped with well designed pedagogical content knowledge. Moreover, Dr. Schmidt herself has also been modeling the teaching well within the TPACK framework. As Fulton (1989) state, "Teachers teach the way they were taught." Everyone in this class will be teaching the way that Dr. Schmidt has been teaching, which is the most important thing. In fact, I think it's one big gap to be filled in the professional development program for teachers. Technology education faculty should all be modeling their teaching integrating technology to facilitate their teaching and enhance students' learning. That way, the pre-service teachers will be teaching the same way!

The second piece is the resources that are introduced and put together on our class wiki. I'm mostly impressed with diversified online materials available for K-12 education. Along with the technologies introduced in class, such as Blogging, Ning, iMovie, Podcast, Etherpad, Kid Pix, online storybooks,etc., teachers wouldn't have to worry about spending too much time trying to locate appropriate materials for literacy development. Even though my target student are university level students, I can see myself using some of the resources in my classroom, such as Etherpad for collaborative writing, which I have already used for my tutoring project.

The third piece is the Blogging assignment, which has given all of us the opportunity to share with and learn from one another's experience. I'm also very pleased to know the use of Google Reader, which in fact has solved the biggest problem I have had when I first used Blogging to teach reading and discussion. With what I know now, I would have been able to plan the class more efficiently and effectively should I be given the chance to teach the same class again, of which I am confident students will benefit further.

As stated, this journey around the literacy world has been fruitful! This is the end of Fall 2009, yet, it's not supposed to be an end but a new beginning! What's truly critical is for everyone of us to continue doing what and how we have been taught and take the opinion leader role when you have your own classroom. That way, everyone of us will be able to make our contribution in teaching WITH technology, which we all know plays a big part in enhancing the learning among our students across all subjects!

So, dear colleagues, fasten your seat belt and Bon Voyage!